A knitting trio making waves for Dogs for Good
After volunteering with us for an amazing 12 years, Jude teamed up with fellow knitters Vicky and Yvonne to try something new.
27/02/2026
Story
We recently had the pleasure of visiting one of our long-standing volunteers to learn more about what first inspired her to support Dogs for Good and how she became part of a remarkable fundraising success story involving knitted hats for cold water swimmers.
Jude Ayres has been volunteering and raising funds for us for an incredible 12 years, though she is typically very modest about her contribution. Her journey began when her husband Ray retired and started volunteering as a driver for Dogs for Good, keen to do something meaningful for a local charity. Before long, Jude joined him in supporting the cause, becoming involved with the Banbury fundraising group and helping at a variety of local events in Banbury.
Seeing opportunities to raise even more money closer to home, Jude soon began organising fundraising events in Brackley, where her enthusiasm and community spirit quickly made an impact.
From tea cosies to global demand
About 15 months ago, Jude teamed up with fellow keen knitters, Vicky and Yvonne, to try something new. Using a tea cosy pattern, they created a few novelty hats for friends who enjoyed cold water swimming. What started as a fun idea soon snowballed into something extraordinary.
After sharing photos of their creations on Facebook, word quickly spread as they captured cold water swimmers' imaginations around the world. In just over a year, they have received over 250 orders with cold water swimming enthusiasts not being able to get enough of the quirky hats. The aptly named "Blue Tits" group has placed many of the orders, but word has spread far and wide, with requests coming from Germany, France, Norway, Australia and Canada, among others.
All the wool used is donated, meaning every penny of profit goes directly to Dogs for Good. So far, the trio has raised more than £3,000 through Facebook sales alone; an incredible achievement!
In just over a year, Jude, Vicky and Yvonne have received over 250 orders with cold water swimming enthusiasts not being able to get enough of the quirky hats.
A true team effort
Jude is quick to emphasise that this success is very much a team effort. The three friends have been knitting tirelessly, filling their spare rooms with wool and working hard to keep up with growing demand. Their creativity doesn't stop with swimming hats either. They also make seasonal gifts and are currently producing delightful covers for Terry's Chocolate Oranges; a charming addition to their thriving cottage industry.
Their creativity doesn’t stop with swimming hats either. They also make seasonal gifts and are currently producing delightful covers for Terry's Chocolate Oranges.
Supporting the cause
If you know someone who enjoys a cold-water dip, or who simply loves something fun and quirky, these handmade hats make a fantastic gift. Available through the JUDENVIC Creations Facebook page for £13.50 each, every purchase helps support Dogs for Good and the life-changing work we do.
An inspiring story of creativity, community spirit and dedication, and proof that sometimes the simplest ideas can make the biggest splash.
Fundraisers like Jude help to make life possible
Could you fundraise for us and help bring more people and dogs together?
Connection, calm and confidence building
Our Community Dog team members, Natashya and Sandy, helped to deliver a small group Animal Assisted Service at one of Alzheimer Scotland’s Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centres.
Opening the door to a dream career
After chronic health conditions prevented Jemima from attending university, assistance dog Albert opened the door for her to new possibilities. Now she’s pursuing her dream career at a prestigious law firm.
When play becomes a pathway to healing
Community Dog Handler Julia and golden retriever, Georgie have been working at a secondary school delivering sessions to students who are dealing with grief and loss.